The Marker on the Felt
A lammer is a small, flat disc or plaque that sits on a blackjack table to mark a specific condition. It is not a betting chip and it has no cash value. The dealer or floor supervisor places it, moves it, or removes it as the game state changes.
Lammers exist because a fast table game needs visual signals that survive noise, distraction, and a shift change. A marker on the felt tells the next dealer, the pit boss, and the surveillance camera what the last action was without anyone having to remember it.
What a Lammer Is Not
A lammer is not a chip, a plaque, or a token that a player can buy, cash, or wager. It never enters the pot and it never counts toward a payout. Confusing the two is the most common misreading of the term.
The distinction matters because a lammer can sit on top of a stack of chips. A player seeing a colored disc resting on a bet might assume the whole stack is in play. The lammer only marks the condition it was placed for.
Common Uses on a Blackjack Table
The same word covers several different markers because different properties use different systems. The table below separates the main functions a lammer can serve.
| Function | What the marker signals | Who places it |
|---|---|---|
| Seat marker | A seat is reserved, held, or temporarily unavailable | Floor supervisor or dealer |
| Bet marker | A specific bet is being tracked separately from the main wager | Dealer |
| Status marker | A player has stepped away, requested a fill, or triggered a procedure | Dealer or floor supervisor |
| Rating marker | A player's play is being recorded for comp or rating purposes | Floor supervisor |
Not every blackjack table uses lammers for every one of these functions. Some houses use them only for seat holds. Others use them for rating, for bonus bets, or for marking a player who has gone to the restroom. The only way to know what a specific marker means at a specific table is to ask the dealer.
Why the Table Uses a Physical Marker
A blackjack table processes decisions in seconds. A verbal instruction can be misheard, forgotten, or disputed after the fact. A physical marker placed on the felt is visible to everyone at the table and to the cameras above it.
The marker also survives a dealer change. When one dealer leaves and another arrives, the lammer stays on the felt and carries the information forward. That continuity is the entire point of the object.
How Lammers Differ from Chips
A chip has a denomination and can be wagered. A lammer has no denomination and cannot be wagered. The two objects look different, feel different, and are handled differently by the dealer.
Lammers are typically larger than chips, often rectangular or octagonal, and printed with words rather than numbers. They are stored in the dealer's tray or on the table rim, not in the chip rack. A player should never touch a lammer, and a dealer will not pay a bet with one.
What the Player Sees and Does
When a lammer appears on your bet or your seat, the correct action is to leave it alone and ask what it means. The dealer can explain the marker in one sentence. No player action is required unless the dealer asks for one.
If a lammer is placed on a bet you have made, do not remove it, do not stack chips on it, and do not assume the bet is doubled or cancelled. The marker is a note to the house, not an instruction to you.
Where the Rules for Markers Are Set
Each gaming jurisdiction sets the technical standards for table game equipment, and each property writes its own internal procedures for how markers are used. A lammer that means one thing at one casino can mean something slightly different at another casino in the same city.
The authoritative source for what a specific marker means is the table itself: the dealer, the floor supervisor, or the printed table rules where the property posts them. No general article can tell you what a particular colored disc means at a particular table on a particular night.
What to Confirm Before You Play
Before you sit down, confirm three things with the dealer or floor staff. First, ask what the house uses lammers for at that table. Second, ask whether any marker on your seat or bet changes your wagering obligation. Third, ask what to do if a marker is placed while you are away from the table.
These questions take thirty seconds and prevent the most common misunderstandings. A marker is only useful if everyone at the table reads it the same way.
FAQ
Can a player touch a lammer on a blackjack table?
No. A lammer is house equipment placed by the dealer or floor supervisor. Touching or moving it disrupts the table's record of the game state. If a marker is on your seat or bet, ask the dealer what it means and leave it where it is.
Is a lammer worth money?
No. A lammer has no denomination and cannot be wagered, cashed, or collected. It is a marker only. If a marker sits on top of your chips, those chips retain their own value, but the lammer itself is not part of the bet.
Do all blackjack tables use lammers the same way?
No. Different properties use different marker systems. Some use lammers for seat holds, others for rating or bonus bets, and some use none at all. The only reliable way to know what a marker means at a specific table is to ask the dealer or floor supervisor before play begins.
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This article is general information about how these mechanics work. It is not legal advice and not a recommendation to gamble or to use any particular operator. Availability and legality differ by jurisdiction — check the rules that apply where you are.